First and foremost, apply as soon as you lose the job. State unemployment offices generally take 1-3 weeks to process your application, especially for the initial claim. The compensation will be paid from the week you applied and if you delay, you will lose the benefits prior to the week of filing. You won't be allowed to back-date your claims or claim the benefits for prior weeks.
Missouri Unemployment Compensation Eligibility Requirements
There are some basic rules for eligibility. Even if you meet some of these rules partially, you should still apply for unemployment because state offices make a reasonable attempt to process your claim, as long as you provide a good justification.
- You must have lost your job through no fault of your own. That means if you have quit job voluntarily you may not qualify for unemployment insurance. However, there are exceptions - such as working in hazardous or inhuman working conditions etc. to this rule.
- You must be willing and able to work. If you are physically disabled, you do not qualify.
- If you have received severance package when you lost job, you do not qualify.
- You must have earned minimum wage credits. Missouri State minimum weeks of covered employment requirement (employer must have paid unemployment taxes on your behalf): 24
- Minimum wages earned during the base period: $1500. This amount may change every year. You can get get complete eligibility criteria and the benefits calculator from state website mentioned in the next section.
Prepare documents required to apply for unemployment in MO
- Your name, address, social security number and other personal details such as telephone number, email address etc.
- Dependents name, date of birth and their social security number.
- Details of your previous employer. For each employer, you need to provide
- Name and address
- Telephone number
- Start and end dates of employment
- If you had out-of-state employment in the past 18 months, you also need to provide the employment details.
- Reason you lost the job – it has to be involuntary to be eligible to receive benefits.
- Your job skills summary
- If you are not an US citizen, keep your alien registration number and work authorization. However if you are on a work visa such as H1-B, immigration experts do not advise claiming unemployment insurance.
Apply for Benefits or Claim Extension
You can submit your application for unemployment compensation online, off-line (by mail or by visiting local employment office) or through telephone. Online application is the quickest and most efficient option which will also be available 24x7, 7 days a week.
Prepare and submit your application online here
If you choose to file over phone, call the unemployment compensation services toll-free number at 573-751-9040 if you belong to Jefferson City RCC (Regional Claims Center). Outside Local Calling Area #: 800-320-2519.
Kansas City RCC can be reached at 816-889-3101 or 800-320-2519. Springfield RCC can be reached at 417-895-6851 or 800-320-2519. St. Louis RCC can be reached at 314-340-4950 or 800-320-2519.
Note:Monday and Tuesday are our busiest days. You may experience an extended wait. For faster service, call later in the week. Waiting until later in the week to file your initial claim for benefits will have NO effect on the beginning, or effective, date of your claim.
If you are applying for unemployment extension in Missouri, make sure you check the latest rules. Many states are in the process of revising the rules to extend the benefits beyond the initial period. Also remember that IRS will tax your unemployment benefits pay.
All the major cities in Missouri including Jefferson City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Independence, Columbia, Lee's Summit, O'Fallon, St. Joseph, St. Charles, Blue Springs, and St. Peters have an unemployment office location to process unemployment claims. You can visit the local office for consultation or to file for unemployment in person
Missouri Unemployment Rate (Trend)
The graph below shows the current and historical unemployment rate in the state
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Waiting Week?
Before any benefits can be paid, you must serve a waiting week. To serve the waiting week you must have a claim in existence (benefit year), have filed a weekly certification and be entitled to benefits. One waiting week must be served in each benefit year. The waiting week becomes payable when your claim balance is equal to or less than the benefit amount you would be eligible for during the week.
Can Benefits Be Denied?
You may be an insured worker and still be ineligible or disqualified for benefits. Some examples of when you may be held ineligible from receiving benefits are if you are not able to work full-time due to an injury or illness; you are not available for full-time work because of your school attendance, lack of transportation or child care for the hours of work you are seeking; or you are not making an active and earnest search for work. The ineligibility will continue until the conditions holding you ineligible no longer exist.
Appeal Process
If you disagree with a determination, you or your duly authorized agent may file an appeal. You may appeal if you believe the law was incorrectly applied or all the facts were not considered when the determination was made. Your appeal rights and time limits are explained on each determination. If you do not file within the time limit, you may lose your right to appeal. In some cases, your employer may file an appeal to a determination that finds you eligible to receive benefits. An employer’s appeal will not cause your benefits to stop, unless the employer wins the appeal. If the employer wins the appeal, benefits may be stopped at that time and you may be overpaid for the benefits you have received. It is important that you participate in the hearing on the employer’s appeal to present your side of the case. Without your testimony, the employer may win the appeal and you would have to pay back any benefits received. Find more information at http://www.dolir.mo.gov/es/appeals/index.htm
Can I Work Part Time and Receive Benefits?
You may be eligible to receive some benefits for a week if you work less than full time. You must continue to look for and be able to work full time. You must report your gross wages (wages before deductions) and not just take home pay. The benefits you will be paid when working less than full time will be the difference between your weekly benefit amount and that part of your wages for the week that are in excess of $20 or 20% of your weekly benefit amount, whichever is greater. Benefits that are payable to you are rounded down to the next lower whole dollar. Any withholdings for federal taxes, etc. are taken out of the payable amount.
What If I Try A New Job, But It Just Doesn’t Work Out?
Normally, if you quit a job for a reason that is not good cause related to the work or employer you will be disqualified from receiving benefits. There is an exception to this. If you take a job that would be considered “unsuitable work” as defined in the Missouri Employment Security Law, and quit within 28 days of the first day of work, you may not be disqualified. This exception allows you to try a job that you might otherwise have turned down without losing your right to benefits.
Benefits Extension
When either the national or Missouri unemployment rate exceeds a certain level, you may be entitled to additional weeks of benefits after you use all regular benefits. If an extended benefit period is declared and it appears that you qualify, we will send you a notice. On November 21, 2008, President Bush signed legislation providing additional weeks of Emergency Unemployment, effective November 23, 2008. To make an initial application for additional weeks of benefits, call your Regional Claims Center. The initial application for additional weeks of benefits cannot be made on-line at our website.
Next steps
After you have submitted your application, you should actively look out for work because the benefits you receive will not be enough to cover your living expenses. The best thing to do is to take a look at your job skills and determine if you want to improve or learn new skills so that you can use this opportunity to revive your career. There are plenty of online opportunities to earn a living while working from home.
State Unemployment Guides
Texas Unemployment Benefits GuideNevada Unemployment Benefits Guide
Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits Guide
Missouri Unemployment Benefits Guide
California Unemployment Benefits Guide
Wisconsin Unemployment Benefits Guide
Michigan Unemployment Benefits Guide
NJ Unemployment Benefits Guide
Florida Unemployment Benefits Guide
Oregon Unemployment Benefits Guide
NY Unemployment Benefits Guide
Ohio Unemployment Benefits Guide
Utah Unemployment Benefits
New Mexico Unemployment Benefits
Tennessee Unemployment Benefits
Massachusetts Unemployment Benefits
Arizona Unemployment Benefits Guide
NH Unemployment Benefits Guide
Washington Unemployment Benefits Guide
Maryland Unemployment Benefits Guide
Kansas Unemployment Benefits Guide
Georgia Unemployment Benefits Guide
Illinois Unemployment Benefits Guide
Colorado Unemployment Benefits Guide
North Carolina Unemployment Benefits Guide
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